| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, | 1The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, will take away from Jerusalem and Judah everything they depend on: every bit of bread and every drop of water, |
| 2the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, | 2all their heroes and soldiers, judges and prophets, fortune-tellers and elders, |
| 3the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter. | 3army officers and high officials, advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers. |
| 4“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.” | 4I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers. |
| 5The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable. | 5People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable. |
| 6A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.” | 6In those days a man will say to his brother, “Since you have a coat, you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of ruins!” |
| 7On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!” | 7But he will reply, “No! I can’t help. I don’t have any extra food or clothes. Don’t put me in charge!” |
| 8For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence. | 8For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him. They provoke him to his face. |
| 9The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves. | 9The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves. |
| 10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. | 10Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! |
| 11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done. | 11But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve. |
| 12Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths. | 12Childish leaders oppress my people, and women rule over them. O my people, your leaders mislead you; they send you down the wrong road. |
| 13The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people. | 13The LORD takes his place in court and presents his case against his people. |
| 14The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. | 14The LORD comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of his people: “You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor. |
| 15Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. | 15How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. A Warning to Jerusalem |
| 16The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles— | 16The LORD says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty: craning her elegant neck, flirting with her eyes, walking with dainty steps, tinkling her ankle bracelets. |
| 17the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” | 17So the Lord will send scabs on her head; the LORD will make beautiful Zion bald.” |
| 18In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; | 18On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful: ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces, |
| 19their pendants, bracelets, and veils; | 19earrings, bracelets, and veils; |
| 20their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms; | 20scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes, perfumes, and charms; |
| 21their signet rings and nose rings; | 21rings, jewels, |
| 22their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses; | 22party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses; |
| 23and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. | 23mirrors, fine linen garments, head ornaments, and shawls. |
| 24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. | 24Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink. She will wear a rope for a sash, and her elegant hair will fall out. She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes. Shame will replace her beauty. |
| 25Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle. | 25The men of the city will be killed with the sword, and her warriors will die in battle. |
| 26And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. | 26The gates of Zion will weep and mourn. The city will be like a ravaged woman, huddled on the ground. |
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